Introduction
Alice Walker is one of the distinguished African-American authors. In her novel The Color Purple, she talks about gender inequality which is regarded as a major contemporary social problem. Walker raised the concept of inequality between male and female. To Walker, equality represents a state that everyone is created equal at birth and this notion of equality promotes that all should have the same end result regardless of race, gender, religion, etc. Walker also focuses on the influence of spiritual evolvement on the main protagonist, Celie, and her ideology of divinity, spirituality and God, which paves the way for the natural law of unification.
Pantheism
The word Pantheism is the combination of two Greek words; ‘Pan’ meaning ‘all’ and ‘theos’ meaning ‘God’. Pantheistic point of view represents that there is no specific God and denies the concept of a personal God. It believes that everything that exists in this world is God. All existing things in this world are naturally interconnected with one another. This connectivity leads them to divinity, and the universal laws of unification bring humans closer to the law that they are all interconnected.
God is an Emblem of the Universal Laws of Unification
Walker advocates that all things and all human beings are unified in this world like a family. She represents the universal laws of unification and equality through the conversation between Shug and Celie, in which Shug stresses that everyone has an equal chance to achieve affluence, social esteem, and authority because the rules of God are the same for everyone.
Celie’s Preset Notion of God
Walker presents the dogmatic belief about God and religion through the character of Celie, who fully believes in such an existence and cognizance of God as defined in the Bible. For Celie, God is a white old man with a tall and gray beard. However, when she shares her ideas with Shug, Shug introduces her to the real image of God from a pantheistic outlook.
God is Neither Male nor Female
Walker believes that God is the only entity in this universe. He has created the whole universe and all creatures equally. Walker uses the word God in a wide range and by using it she tries to remove the gender system as it has discriminatory effects on women in society.
Spirituality Leads to Unity and Equality
In the novel, spirituality becomes the noticeable concern that ultimately has influenced Celie, who transforms from being a low-down woman to become a self-governing woman physically, economically and socially. Walker’s ideology of spirituality is interconnected with pantheism, the idea that God is in all living and non-living things within nature.
Pantheistic Views and the Universal Laws of Unification
Shug plays an important role in Celie’s emancipation process and in her realization that the whole world is united. Shug teaches Celie that God is inside everyone and in everything, and that one should admire each and every aspect of nature without neglecting anything.
Celie’s Achieved Nous Regarding Equality
After having a fine conversation with Shug about the concept of God, Celie got a new sense of equality that being a black woman she deserves all the equal rights and opportunities just as the men have in the society. She starts her own business of pants making and achieves personal identity, financial security and social participation.
Conclusion
Celie learns that peace, kindness, gentleness, joy, truth, love, and feelings play a significant role in making unification with God. The basic and predominant aim of Walker is to bring equality in man-woman relationship and to strengthen women to gain equality and liberty by making them conscious of their rights.
Works Cited
- Bates, Gerri. Alice Walker: A Critical Companion. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2005. Print.
- Butler, Evans Elliot. Race, Gender and Desire: Narrative Strategies in the Fiction of Toni Cade Bambra, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1989. Print.
- Carter, Ian. “Respect And The Basis Of Equality.” Ethics 121.3 (2011): 538-571. Print.
- Charvet, John. “The Idea of Equality As A Substantive Principle Of Society.” Political Studies 17.1 (1969): 1-13. Print.
- Levine, Michael P. Pantheism: A Non-Theistic Concept of Deity. London and New York: Routledge, 1994. Print.
- Ranveer, Kashinath. “Alice Walker: An African American Womanist Writer.” Perspectives on the Afro-American Novel. Ed. Tarlochan Singh Anand. Jalandhar: ABS Publication, (1994): 103-135. Print.
- Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Print.
- ---. The Temple of My Familiar. 1989. New York: Mariner Books, 2010. Print.
- ---. In The Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. New York: A Harvest Book Harcourt, 1983. Print.